My moments…some are teachable, some are merely moments

4 Days, 3 Nights In Paris

GETTING THERE

I took an overnight bus from Amsterdam to Paris, France. In spite of being excited about all of the Paris attractions that I was about to embark on, I was able to get some sleep. Plus, I saved on one night of accommodations, for the win. If you’re traveling around Europe, Flixbus really is the way to go!

WHERE TO LAY YOUR HEAD ON A PILLOW

My friends and I stayed at Inter-Hotel Parisiana. Equipped with three twin beds, the room was like a scene from “I Love Lucy.” The hotel was conveniently located near a metro and bus stop, which made getting around simple.

GETTING AROUND PARIS

The bus and metro systems make it pretty easy to get around Paris. Tickets are 1.90 € , just keep track of the number of trips you’re taking because that can add up quickly. With that said, don’t be alarmed by the transportation line in my budget; I opted for Uber here and there.

WHERE TO EAT

One of the major Paris attractions is the food. Treat yourself to a macaron, cheese, wine, escargot…wander around and eat until your heart’s content. One night, we indulged in a nice dinner at Le Hide. It was pricey but worth it.

THINGS TO DO

Paris offers tons of things to see and do. Interested in free activities? Explore Montmartre, relax in le Jardin du Luxembourg, spend some time at the Notre Dame Cathedral. Willing to pay a fee? Climb to the top of the Arc de Triomphe, be wowed by the beauty of Sainte Chapelle, tour the Catacombs, visit the Louvre, journey to the top of the Eiffel Tower. Whatever you decide to do, you won’t be disappointed.

Sainte Chapelle was one of my favorite Paris attractions. It wasn’t at the top of my list until a friend told me it was a must-see. Luckily, I decided to spend 10 € and check it out for myself. The story telling on the painted glass windows was breathtaking!

Of course I can’t forget about the Eiffel Tower. A ticket, including a lift to the top was 17 €. Tickets were sold out online, so we went to the tower and stood in an actual queue. Between security and purchasing the tickets, we waited for about 45 minutes. Not too bad, but it was pretty cold…so bundle up, buttercup. Minus the temperature, I enjoyed visiting at night to see the light show.

Paris nights in September.

BUDGET

Here’s a breakdown of my budget for four days in Paris.

Item

Cost

Amsterdam → Paris

40 € = 48 USD

Accommodations

112 € = 134 USD

Getting Around

25 € = 30 USD

Food and Drinks

110 € = 132 USD

Activities

27 € = 32 USD

Total

314 € = 377 USD

*I used an exchange rate of 1 € = 1.2 USD

Looking at the activity line, I’m realizing that it might have been wise to invest in a Paris Museum Pass. The pass allows you to gain access to various museums without waiting in line. I decided not to partake in some activities because I was deterred by the line and/or the price. Think about what you want to see in Paris and do the math; purchasing a pass might allow you to see more Paris attractions while helping you save a bit of time and money.

There’s nothing like Paris! Good idea about the Paris museum pass, if I’m going to be there for more or a day or two I think I’ll invest in that. I’ve never been to Sainte Chapelle but i’m adding it to my list for next time, it looks stunning!

Sainte Chapelle is by far my most favourite church in all of this world. It is absolutely breathtaling and no matter how many times I see it, that initial gasp when you walk up those stairs is my favourite moment. I had th epleasure of finally takin gmy daughter to Paris and she was also gobsmacked by that church. Love Paris!

Love reading about my home ahah! A museums pass might be a good idea regarding what you want to visit indeed. Also, another way to save money is by using a Mobilis ticket they’re around 7,50€ -if I recall correctly- and you can take as many trips as you want for 24h 🙂

Your budget seems really reasonable for four days in Paris! I spent 4 days there this time last year and did get a museum pass like you mentioned – it was definitely worth it. Great ideas for things to do!

I’m still kicking myself that I didn’t have time to see inside Notre Dame. Your photos are gorgeous! Isn’t Paris just amazing? The public transport is pretty great as well, as you said. I think the biggest expense for me was the accommodation.